I have just been to my garden to find my young spring cabbage plants have all had their roots eaten by small maggots. Luckily i have some spare plants but what should i do to the soil to stop it happening again? i read somewhere about putting Jeyes Fluid over the soil - if i do this how soon after can i put my replacement plants in? or is there any other advice
Help!
Root problem
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter, Chief Spud
Hi GIB,
Your Cabbages have fallen foul of Cabbage Rootfly and as you remove them you should try to take the surrounding soil, that will contain the maggots, and dispose of by immersing in water and leaving for a while then put back on the beds.
You could use Jeyes Fluid just so long as you realize that you are now breaking the law by doing so. Jeyes Fluid no longer holds the required certification to be used as a soil sterilant.
The Cabbage Rootfly lays her eggs in the soil at the base of the plant and you can prevent her laying by
the use of Anti RF mats that you can either make yourself or they are on sale in most gardening outlets. These give a tight fitting mat around the base of the young plants and prevents mummy RF from laying her eggs.
JB
Your Cabbages have fallen foul of Cabbage Rootfly and as you remove them you should try to take the surrounding soil, that will contain the maggots, and dispose of by immersing in water and leaving for a while then put back on the beds.
You could use Jeyes Fluid just so long as you realize that you are now breaking the law by doing so. Jeyes Fluid no longer holds the required certification to be used as a soil sterilant.
The Cabbage Rootfly lays her eggs in the soil at the base of the plant and you can prevent her laying by
the use of Anti RF mats that you can either make yourself or they are on sale in most gardening outlets. These give a tight fitting mat around the base of the young plants and prevents mummy RF from laying her eggs.
JB